Paloma School representative Sheena Stoner tells Lebanon council the bilingual school has grown to 86 students

Sheena Stoner, representing Paloma School, told the Lebanon City Council the school operates from the former Saint James Lutheran Church on Chestnut Street and has expanded since it began in 2018.

"Our mission is to partner with families to provide quality bilingual education rooted in a Charlotte Mason philosophy and a Christ centered atmosphere," Stoner said, describing a program that began in a church basement with 18 students and now serves 86 preschool–12th-grade students. She said 47% of the student body have a Spanish-speaking heritage.

During a council question-and-answer, Stoner said Paloma teaches core subjects including math and awards a high-school diploma at graduation. She described class-size goals of 12 students or fewer and said most staff are first-generation immigrants who contribute culturally grounded lessons such as folk dances and bilingual story time at the community library. Stoner said transportation to an outdoor partner site is provided through a relationship with On Fire Youth Ministries and a contracted bus driver.

On financing, Stoner said the school charges tuition but offers "substantial scholarships" and uses the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program to help families; she also noted a small number of private donors. For admissions the school uses a website contact followed by in-person meetings and a paper application, she said.

Why it matters: the Paloma School provides a bilingual option in Lebanon with a curriculum that emphasizes outdoor study and cultural learning, and the school's expansion to serve older grades raises questions about local pathways to postsecondary and workforce opportunities for bilingual graduates.

The council thanked Stoner for the presentation; she closed by offering to answer follow-up questions via the school's contact information on its website.